Auckland Council's new chief executive will be paid $152,000 less than his predecessor.
Mayor Len Brown on Friday named the council's new chief executive as Stephen Town.
Mr Town is the regional director of the Transport Agency for Auckland and Northland and was chief executive of Tauranga City Council for eight years until 2010.
Mr Brown says Mr Town will earn $630,000 in his new role - $152,000 less than outgoing chief executive Doug McKay.
In a statement, Mr Town said he will focus on service improvement and prudent financial management. He takes over from Mr McKay in mid-January.